STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Thousands of Penn State fans, former players -- and even a former university president -- signed a downtown petition of sorts in support of restoring Joe Paterno's 409 wins.
A local organization, The People's Joe, hung up three double-sided, 7 foot-by-4 foot signs on East College Avenue and asked fans for their signatures throughout Friday and Saturday. Three group officials plan to deliver the signs to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis between Nov. 16 and Nov. 27.
Organizers estimate the three large signs exceed 15,000 total signatures. More than 100 Sharpies were used.
A look at downtown Happy Valley, where fans are signing "409" posters in support of giving JoePa back his wins. pic.twitter.com/Qu0qvrpNg2
— Josh Moyer (@ESPNJoshMoyer) October 25, 2014"There is an obvious and growing enthusiasm for the restoration of 409 wins," said Harry Levant, a spokesman for the group. "Penn State fans have never had the opportunity to have their voice heard. We recognize this void and, in an event like this, we give the people an opportunity to express their feelings in a positive way."
Paterno was stripped of 111 wins as part of NCAA sanctions levied in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. The NCAA eliminated many of the Nittany Lions' remaining sanctions last month, such as the postseason ban, but the vacancy of wins from 1998 to 2012 remains. Officially, Paterno's win total now stands at 298.
"For us, it's really about righting a wrong," fellow organizer Connie Ferrara said.
The group ran local TV commercials and radio spots for the downtown event, which was dubbed the "Honor Joe -- Restore the Wins Rally." Former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris inked each of the three signs and spent an hour or two at the event.
According to organizers, the family of current Ohio State assistant -- and former Penn State defensive line coach -- Larry Johnson Sr. also stopped by to sign. Although Johnson Sr. didn't make an appearance, his son, Larry Jr., autographed one of the posters.
Former university president Graham Spanier also made an appearance Friday to add his signature. He remains implicated in the Sandusky scandal and declined to comment to reporters at the event.
Paterno was fired in November 2011 and passed away two months later. He was stripped of the 111 wins in July 2012.
The legacy of the longtime Penn State coach remains a hot-button topic in Happy Valley. He paced the sideline for more than a half-century (from 1950 to 1965 as an assistant, and 1966 to 2011 as the head coach). Local businesses still keep "Honor Joe" or similar signs in their front windows, drivers zip through downtown with "409" bumper stickers, and a plane flew around Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon with the message, "Bring the statue home." The bronze sculpture of Paterno was taken down outside the stadium in June 2012.
The three 4-0-9 signs will be laminated and showcased downtown during the Nov. 15 Temple-Penn State game. Between then and Thanksgiving, the group will travel to NCAA headquarters with the intention of delivering the posters to NCAA president Mark Emmert.
"There is not an ounce of antagonism in this," Levant said. "We're going to take it there. If they don't want it, we're going to bring it back."